Weight fluctuation dangerous to health and productivity of piglets

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Right now is not a particularly good time to be a pig, as the chances are you could soon end up as the baked ham on someone's Christmas table, but at least something is being done to improve the way pigs themselves are fed.
      Raising yo-yo piglets, which are subject to wild fluctuations in weight, is not a profitable exercise.
      Jan Togtema, a Dutch expert on the feeding and health of pigs, passed on information on the importance of the correctly-timed feeding of pigs at the ProAgria Seminar in Seinäjoki in Western Finland.
     
Correctly-timed feeding is the key to stop the so-called "yo-yo effect". When the continuous gaining and losing of weight are eliminated, the animals feel better and the piggery’s productivity increases.
      Ilmajoki pig farmer Lauri Yli-Hannuksela is also aware of the dangers of the piglets’ yo-yo diets.
      “One must continuously observe the animals. At times their diets are adjusted even twice a week. Every occupant of the piggery is an individual”, the farmer points out.
      An experienced farmer can tell the weight fluctuation just by looking at the animals. The layer of fat on a sow’s back should remain under 18 millimetres in thickness.
     
“An overweight sow cannot farrow without difficulties or eat after the farrowing. Its metabolism will start eating into its meat reserves and the animal will actually lose weight. There may not be enough milk for the piglets. Conversely an underweight sow will not enter into heat easily and the next farrow will remain small”, Yli-Hannuksela explains.
      “At times we have to use tidbits to persuade the underweight pigs and those ready for covering to eat. In addition to apple juice and citric acid also milk powder and lingonberries are particular favourites among the piglets”, laughs Marita Öhage from the Yli-Hannuksela establishment, which raises piglets for supplying to other farms, and has a total of 120 sows.
     
Even the temperature plays a role in the pigs’ diet. The piggery’s temperature must not fall below 18° Celsius.
      A one-degree drop in temperature has to be compensated for by an additional 100 grams of food per day.
      Pig-farmers in Finland have been under the gun of late with soaring grain prices and rising energy costs. Anything to minimise additional costs is gratefully received.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Genetically modified feed to be introduced to Finnish pig farms (8.8.2007)

Links:
  Jan Togtema
  Agrifood Research Finland: Pork and Poultry Production

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